GU syndicate authorises V-C to take action against Zala

As per the report of the committee set up to look into the matter, V-C M N Patel said Zala has been held as guilty.

Members of the youth Congress and NSUI stage a protest on the Gujarat University campus on Friday. (Source: Express photo by Javed Raja)

The Gujarat University (GU) syndicate, the highest decision-making body of the university, on Friday confirmed the suspension of Political Science department dean Sharman Zala and authorised Vice-Chancellor M N Patel to take strong action against him in an offence pertaining to writing lewd letters to his female colleagues.

Zala, who is currently in jail in this connection, was suspended by the V-C immediately after the police lodged a criminal case against him about 10 days ago. The victims, who are lecturers in the political science department, had submitted a representation to the university authorities as well as lodged a police complaint.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, a syndicate member and deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission Narhari Amin said the syndicate has authorised the V-C to take whatever action it deemed appropriate as per the statues of the university for the charges against the accused professor.

He said the issue was put before the syndicate on Friday and was discussed threadbare before taking the decision.

As per the report of the committee set up to look into the matter, V-C M N Patel said Zala has been held as guilty.

Asked if he would consider dismissal of Zala, Patel said he would get the entire case examined legally and then take an appropriate action in the matter that he said would take time as he would have to follow proper procedures in the matter like issuing a chargesheet to Zala.